Friday, October 22, 2010

SAVE!!! Mooring Cemetery, Mooring Rd, Lake Co, TN

I recently visited Lake County, Tenn. Although unmarked and unpopulated I was able to locate the Mooring cemetery, or rather what is left it.

What I witnessed September 2010:

I clearly saw Wyatt and Martha with baby boy Henry age 2 but their headstones were broken up. There were bits of headstones buried and the farming machine tracks were certainly closer than allowed to be there.

I am asking if anyone is interested in helping me try to perserve this piece of AMERICAN HISTORY.

In Lake County --- it is not only the Mooring Cemetery in danger but all these cemetaries;

Burrus Chapel

Cronanville Cemetery (Jones)

Crockett Chapel Cemetery

Davis Cemetery

Haynes Memorial Cemetery

Hornridge Cemetery

Jones Cemetery (Cronanville)

Mooring Cemetery

New Haven Cemetery

No Name Cemetery

Old Madie Cemetery

Parks Cemetery

The librarians and historians seemed helpless to know what to do about the situation.

The cemetaries are located in acres and acres of farmed land. Huge farming machinery tills the land in preparation of growing crops.

Although my heart truely goes out to the farmers of America, there must be something we can do to accomodate both interests.

Tennessee law protects these cemetaries; But it is up to us to alert the proper authorities as to the destruction of these cemeteries.

We have several East Tennessee Genealogical and History Societies to appeal our case.

b) Real property which has a deed that reflects the presence of human remains on the property is protected from disturbance or development as follows: (1) A gravesite may not be disturbed in the area of ten feet (10") surrounding the perimeter of the gravesite; and (2) A crypt may not be disturbed in the area of five feet (5') surrounding the perimeter of the crypt.

Why is it important NOW: because while there is "no statutes of limitations" that only holds true as long as there are still markers!

Cemeteries. Land... Descendants... Purchaser... Burial ground rights are not barred by statutes of limitations so long as graves are marked by monuments, gravestones, or otherwise. The right to use a private burial ground as such is not barred by the statute of limitations, so long as it is kept inclosed ; or, if uninclosed, so long as the monuments and gravestones marking the graves are there, or other attention is given to the graves, so as to show and perpetuate the sacred object and purpose to which the land has been devoted; for possession by the living is not required, in such case, to prevent the acquirement of title by the adverse possession of the owner of the fee, so long as the dead are there buried, their graves are marked, and any acts are done tending to preserve their memory and mark their last resting place

Cemeteries. Desecration of private burial ground and graves therein, and wrongful obstruction of way thereto, are misdemeanors. The desecration of a private burial ground, and graves therein, and the wrongful obstruction of the easement of a right of way from the public road thereto, as against those entitled to use it, are misdemeanors, subject to punishment under the statutes applicable to offenses of that character.

WHAT CAN WE DO?

WE MUST NOTIFY THE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT>

Also we need to contact an attorney in the area that is up to date on the laws:

It is the responsibility of law enforcement personnel with jurisdiction over the location of the cemetery to enforce these laws. If you are aware of any violations, you should immediately contact local law enforcement authorities for action. If law enforcement personnel do not handle the situation to your satisfaction, you should contact the state's chief archaeologist in care of the Department of Environmental Conservation in Nashville.

HARRIS, Stonewall [no dates or stone; twin of Verzall (or Verzalia or Berzalia). Died at almost 3 years of age after having been bitten by a rabid dog. They were sons of Daniel Harris and Martha Adkins Harris. Info per records of Winnie Mooney Hood]

HARRIS, Verzall, or Verzalia, or Berzalia. [no stone, no dates; twin of Stonewall Harris. His given name is believed to be an Indian name, but there is no proof of this. Died at almost 3 years of age after having been bitten by a rabid dog. They were sons of Daniel Harris and Martha Adkins Harris. Info per records of Winnie Mooney Hood]

1 comment:

The two Harris children are my cousins. My 2nd great grandfather Richard Harris and Daniel were brothers. I am interested in the rest of Mrs. Hoods records on this family. If anyone still reads this please contact me. Jason Lynn Sollis I am on facebook and ancestry.com